Hello Everyone,
Hey, guess what? After almost two years in publication and a lot of hassle my next book has a publication date for 10th December, that's next week folks. Just thought I would share the cover pic with you so that you get used to seeing it. It is available for pre-order on Amazon.co.uk but the delivery date is late January apparently. I know, everything is slow these days except Covid which is really, really, speedy.
Okay, the situation in the UK is that we are out of our second lockdown and back in the controversial tier system. So, no change. I will share with you my scribing's for last weekend. Enjoy and have fun. Remember, nothing lasts forever and one day Covid-19 will be a distant memory.
Day 249 27th
November 2020. Lockdown 2/Day 23. Black Friday.
Hey peeps,
you know I have an uncanny habit of being correct about things. I am just very
clever (smart arse!) or psychic. I am predicting a third wave and that 2021 is
not going to be much better than 2020. We have to wait for another couple of
years before we have a better new normal. The old things will have passed way,
into oblivion, forgotten and not missed. I also said that I feared anarchy in
our society as a result of our freedom being taken from us. It reminds me of
the old days of highway robbery, (No, I am not that old but I learned all about
it in that little school I loved; the one that closed in 1989.)I am thinking of
Dick Turpin, “Your money or your life?” with a revolver in hand ready to fire.
The 2020 version is, ‘your freedom or your life’! However, it is not society
that is causing anarchy yet, but our government that is revolting. Yes, the
word, ‘revolting’ is open to interpretation. Boris’s Conservative government
are giving him grief over the new tier system which defies both belief and
understanding. Yesterday, I said I would not explain it because it was
complicated, and I just gave a general summary. Our MP’s are asking for a clear
explanation as to why many areas are in top categories when the majority of the
area does not have many cases. Why are Liverpool and London in 2? Why has
Kent switched from 1-3? Why are 99% of the population still in a strict
lockdown? Actually, I would like to know the answers. Although, I am not
surprised that my area has gone to 3. We were in 2 and we do have a high number
of cases. I can share with you the rules relating to tier 3 from the government
website.
Tier
3: Very High alert
This is for areas with a very high or very rapidly rising level
of infections, where tighter restrictions are in place.
In tier 3:
·
you must not meet
socially indoors or in most outdoor places with anybody you do not live with,
or who is not in your support bubble, this includes in any private garden or at
most outdoor venues
·
you must not socialise
in a group of more than 6 in some other outdoor public spaces, including parks,
beaches, countryside accessible to the public, a public garden, grounds of a
heritage site or castle, or a sports facility – this is called the ‘rule of 6’
·
hospitality settings,
such as bars (including shisha venues), pubs, cafes and restaurants are closed
– they are permitted to continue sales by takeaway, click-and-collect,
drive-through or delivery services.
·
accommodation such as
hotels, B&Bs, campsites, and guest houses must close. There are several
exemptions, such as for those who use these venues as their main residence, and
those requiring the venues where it is reasonably necessary for work or
education and training
·
indoor entertainment
and tourist venues must close. This includes:
·
indoor play centres
and areas, including trampolining parks and soft play
·
casinos
·
bingo halls
·
bowling alleys
·
skating rinks
·
amusement arcades and
adult gaming centres
·
laser quests and
escape rooms
·
cinemas, theatres and
concert halls
·
snooker halls
·
indoor attractions at
mostly outdoor entertainment venues must also close (indoor shops, through-ways
and public toilets at such attractions can remain open). This includes indoor
attractions within:
·
zoos, safari parks,
and wildlife reserves
·
aquariums, visitor
attractions at farms, and other animal attractions
·
model villages
·
museums, galleries and
sculpture parks
·
botanical gardens,
biomes or greenhouses
·
theme parks, circuses,
fairgrounds and funfairs
·
visitor attractions at
film studios, heritage sites such as castles and stately homes
·
landmarks including
observation decks and viewing platforms
·
leisure and sports
facilities may continue to stay open, but group exercise classes (including
fitness and dance) should not go ahead. Saunas and steam rooms should close
·
there should be no
public attendance at spectator sport or indoor performances and large business
events should not be taking place. Elite sport events may continue to take
place without spectators
·
large outdoor events
(performances and shows) should not take place, with the exception of drive-in
events
·
places of worship
remain open, but you must not attend with or socialise with anyone
outside of your household or support bubble while you are there, unless a legal
exemption applies
·
weddings and funerals can go ahead with restrictions on the
number of attendees – 15 people can attend wedding ceremonies, wedding
receptions are not allowed, 30 people can attend funeral ceremonies, 15 people
can attend linked commemorative events
·
organised outdoor
sport, and physical activity and exercise classes can continue, however
higher-risk contact activity should not take place
·
organised indoor
sport, physical activity and exercise classes cannot take place indoors. There
are exceptions for indoor disability sport, sport for educational purposes and
supervised sport and physical activity for under-18s
·
you can continue to
travel to venues or amenities which are open, but should aim to reduce the
number of journeys you make where possible
·
avoid travelling to
other parts of the UK, including for overnight stays other than where
necessary, such as for work, education, youth services, to receive medical
treatment, or because of caring responsibilities. You can travel through other
areas as part of a longer journey
·
for international
travel see the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office travel advice for your destination and the travel corridors list
I think it
is lockdown! There’s nowhere to go cos most places are closed. Presumably I can’t travel abroad. All travel
abroad for pleasure as opposed to business is banned until December 2nd.
That’s interesting. Our lockdown was for a month, but it looks like Boris’s
month is 27 days.
The
Covid-19 data has passed the 60,000,000 mark and that, in September, was my
second estimate for Christmas. Germany has passed the 1,000,000-mark making it
the twelfth country with more than a million cases.
Other news
today? Diego Maradona’s funeral has taken place in Buenos Aries. Brexit talks
are continuing, and it really is Black Friday!
Okay,
peeps I am off to be happy because I choose to be, and give myself festive
cheer decorating two more Christmas trees and putting up other décor. Then,
because the world looks better through rose coloured glasses, I will open
another bottle of rosé wine before I settle down with fajitas for dinner and
the goggle box. Goodnight all.
Day 250
Saturday, 28th November, Lockdown 2/Day 24 Another weekend!
Good
morning peeps! No, I do not have a hangover. In fact, I am quite happy because
I choose to be and wait for it…peeps! I have just been onto Amazon and
discovered that my next book is already on it with the facility to pre-order it.
The publication date is December 10th, but you may check it out now,
“The Singing Horses”. Wow!! Je suis content!
I have not
completed adorning my abode yet. I shall do a little more later. A brown
envelope has dropped onto my doormat. Oh dear. My friends we all know I am
soixante-neuf and that another milestone is approaching. Trust the DVLA to
remind me of the inevitable; they have sent me the reminder to renew my driving
licence. Have I really had it for almost half a century? Some of you will
remember that I renewed it only yesterday, or three months ago to be precise.
Yes, over the years the rules have changed. I had one stolen in August 2000 and
consequently purchased a new one. In the UK they only last for ten years before
renewal and must be renewed at the age of 70 regardless. From then on, I think
it is every three years. Memory alert. I remember my first car, a white mini. VJV
654K. I loved that little car and I remember the first time I drove on the road
by myself. It was February 7th, 1975 and I drove out of the school
gate (I was a teacher!), turned right, drove down to the junction. Turned right
again, to the island. Round the island. Parked. Went into the bank. Then drove
back to work. What an achievement. Happy day!
Okay, it
is second cuppa time and time to make my daily phone call. Today, it is my
number one fan’s birthday. I could tell you her age, but I won’t. (She reads
everything I write!) I dial. No reply. I redial. No reply. Er, where is she? No
one is allowed out. We are in lockdown. Try later.
What is
newsworthy? Restrictions during the five days freedom during Christmas. No
board games. No singing. No dancing. Do not sit opposite people. Be careful
about handling cutlery. If possible, have a different toilet for the different
family bubbles. So, if we cannot experience a traditional Christmas why are we
having the five days of permitted travel and seeing families? I guess kissing
under the mistletoe is verboten. Our Asian brethren have had Eid after Ramadan
and Diwali. Those two are the main times of celebration in the Islamic and Sikh
religions. There were no concessions for those. Does this mean that we will
have anarchy from our Sikhs and Muslims because they were not allowed to
celebrate in their customary way when Christians are permitted gatherings for
the Christmas period? Covid and chaos rule in harmony.
Anti-lockdown
protests are taking place in London again and Arcadia are in administration.
Apparently, that is the company that own Topshop, Dorothy Perkins, Miss
Selfridge, Wallis, Burton and… actually, I thought that one had already gone
under. Must be confusing it with another company because there are so many of
them. Enough. Time to try the birthday girl again.
Ring.
Ring. Answer. “Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you…” She sounded
pleased to hear from me. She had been out to meet a friend earlier, but they
practised social distancing, so I do not have to report her to the authorities.
I told her that she was lucky to have me as a friend. What surprised me was
that she agreed. We had a nice chat about numerous different things, but I
won’t bore you peeps because I am going to do a little more decorating and then
watch an afternoon film, “Nativity”. After that it will be dinner time and
another quiet night in.
Goodnight
my friends. Stay safe and choose to be happy.
Day 251,
November 29th, Lockdown 2/Day 25 First Sunday in Advent
I looked
out of the window this morning as usual and looked for Tesco’s across the road.
Alas, it was so drab, foggy, and miserable I could not see the sign. Keep
curtains closed today.
Exciting
news for me when I checked messages. A dear friend has pre-ordered my book.
That must be my first order from Amazon. Yea, you are all free to rush off and
add to the pre-order figures.
It is the
first Sunday in Advent and our BBC are paying homage by putting on a special
church service at 10.30. These services used to last an hour but now curtesy of
Covid-19, they only last 30 minutes. I was downstairs with candles lit and
brekky when it started. There was singing but the choristers were all socially
distancing, and some music had been recorded prior to restrictions. It ended
with “Guide me O thou Great Jehovah”. I sang along because I love that hymn.
For those unaware of Advent, it means the coming of Christ and it continues for
four Sundays leading up to Christmas Day.
An hour
later, it was second cuppa time and “Songs of Praise”. This was a programme
well away from the original ones. It was the semi finals of the male choristers’
contest or something and five young men sang a song each. I found it a little
disappointing but then I am a traditionalist. Sorry, can’t help it.
This
afternoon I finished all the decorations and now my humble home feels warmer
and seems to glow. Also, I won’t have to dust until I take them down and the
last items may well be when Antonio visits again because then it will be
summertime! Guess, I’ll have to write the cards next.
What to do
now? Work, rest and play until the end of the day.
News? The
peasants are still revolting. Sorry, got confused. Meant to say ‘government’.
Boris has his hands full. Romain Grosjean, (never heard of him. Sorry. VIP
Formula 1 driver apparently) has survived a crash which split his car in half before
bursting into flames. He walked away from it. Miraculous. The doctor who was
treating Diego Maradona is under scrutiny regarding the footballer’s death. He
denies any misappropriation and claims he is being made a scapegoat for the
man’s death. President Trump has given his first interview since he lost the
election. Anyone else notice he’s been quiet recently? Sore loser! Wow!
Apparently, we have signed an agreement with France regarding the migrants crossing
our channel. Another miracle. We are on the last stage of Brexit talks after
four years. Okay, better make it quick to get a deal cos it is all over in 31
days! Enough for today.
Perhaps
just one last thing Data! I know you want to know, and I do not like to
disappoint. The global figure is 63,036,138. Last Sunday it was 58,815,000. So
that is 4,000,000+ which means that it is stabilising as opposed to increasing.
Good news and we need good news. Will it stay stable after Christmas? The USA has
13,731,720 cases at present but after Thanksgiving and Christmas what will it
be? What is my estimate for Christmas in a month’s time now? 75,000,000 and my
first estimate was 50,000,000 so that is a 50% increase. If only all peeps had
used their common sense.
Off for
dinner, chicken with mushrooms, potatoes and petite pois with vino and ice
cream to follow.
Goodnight
my friends. Stay safe.
Love to you all, Lady M 💓💓💓💓
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